Spiritual ramblings-Amanda Ewen

The first half of spiritual ramblings was filled with a lot of insight into what happens when doing a long distance hike.  I learned many things about flow and spiritual ramblings and how they occur.  While hiking a long distance hike there is distance put between a person and their everyday life.  I have seen examples of this in the videos we have watched in class.  People are no longer worried about what is going on at home or with their jobs; they are focused on hiking an accomplishing their goals.  I liked that it was made clear that Spiritual Rambling did not have to happen on a long distance hike it could be done on a 4-mile hike.  I learned about the flow experience, which is not like zoning out.  Two parts to flow are clarity of goals and a balance between challenge and skills.  The last thing that I found to be very important was that while on a long distance hike hikers are fully engaged in the walk.  Dualism of the mind and body disappear and communication happens with other environments.  Just because you are on a long distance hike does not mean you are fully present.  I felt that this was extremely relatable because I know that when I take a walk my mind wanders.  I think about everything and anything.  

The second half of the essay starts by talking about the AT.  It is called the "green tunnel" which is surrounded by trees and limits sensory input.  By limiting sensory input your mind has less time to wander. On the trail there is a repetition of bird songs and other natural sounds become a soundtrack while on the hike.  I feel that these sounds would be rather calming.  I found that akesis is another important part of a long distance hike. In the essay akesis was described as distraction from reality.